News

All aboard for Imber

THE Imberbus will run on bank holiday Monday from Warminster to the lost village of Imber and other isolated locations on the Salisbury Plain.

The village was evacuated in 1943 at the request of the military with the residents only receiving a few days’ notice.

It has been deserted ever since.

Sir Peter Hendy, a member of the Imberbus organising team, said: “The bus service, which is operated by iconic red London double deck Routemaster buses, was initially introduced as a oneoff experiment in 2009.

“It was so popular that it has become an annual fundraising event, last year raising over £2,000 which was split between the Imber Church fund and the Royal British Legion.

“The bus service across the Plain not only allows people to see these fascinating areas but also see the expanse of the Plain from the top of a double deck bus.”

Buses will leave from Warminster Station every half hour from 9.50am onwards and will travel across Salisbury Plain over roads that are normally closed to the general public.

The buses will also head to other isolated locations rarely visited by the public, such as Stokes Hill, the former Bustard Inn at Rollestone Camp and Brazen Bottom which is high on the Plain above Market Lavington.

Tickets for the journey from Warminster to Imber cost £2 each way, or £8 for a day ticket.